We’ve gotten word from a number of readers (and other sources) that their new iPad pre-orders have already begun shipping from China for delivery on Friday. Although rumors suggested that Apple was stockpiling a large number of iPads in the U.S., it appears that these may only have been for stocking retail stores, as all iPad preorders so far seem to be shipping from Chengdu.
It’s also interesting that all of the pre-orders I’ve heard about that have already shipped have been for engraved iPads – perhaps Apple is planning to ship most of the devices from their destination countries after all, and is just getting a head start on shipping custom orders?
9to5Mac’s Seth Weintraub and Obama Pacman have also reported that their orders have shipped (and, incidentally, both report that the orders were for engraved iPads). This gives shipping companies a full week to deliver preorders for arrival by the 16th.
